Error sources in the standard numerical integration of the Schrödinger equation: An improved method (Q1058827)

The standard Numerov method for the radial Schrödinger equation \[ d^ 2u/dr^ 2=(V(r)+\ell (\ell +1)/r^ 2-\epsilon)u(r) \] is considered and compared with the results of a new method. The details of the new method are given elsewhere but a list of the various modifications is presented. These modifications include dividing the range of integration into a minimum of 10 regions with a different h in each region, modifying the truncation conditions for large r, changing the variable for \(r\simeq 0\), and a method of repeated integration for evaluating an integral over values of \(r>r_ m\) using only evaluations at \(r_ m\). Several standard potentials are considered.